Weight reduction for electric vehicles

Abstract

An electric motor can comprise a stator unit comprising a plurality of winding elements, wherein each pair of consecutive winding elements of the plurality of winding elements can be coupled by a dynamic mechanical linkage system comprising a first set of ball joints, a second set of ball joints and a scissor mechanism coupling the first set of ball joints and the second set of ball joints. The electric motor can further comprise a rotor unit comprising at least one shuttle that can be magnetically coupled to the plurality of winding elements and mechanically coupled to a rail structure of the stator unit, wherein the at least one shuttle can follow a circumferential length of the stator unit, such that a circumferential length of the electric motor can be altered according to a circumferential length of the stator unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric motor, comprising:
 a stator unit comprising a plurality of winding elements, wherein each pair of consecutive winding elements of the plurality of winding elements is coupled by a dynamic mechanical linkage system comprising a first set of ball joints, a second set of ball joints and a scissor mechanism that couples the first set of ball joints and the second set of ball joints.   
     
     
         2 . The electric motor of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic mechanical linkage system allows a circumferential length of the stator unit to be altered during operation of the electric motor, and wherein the stator unit comprises multiple dynamic mechanical linkage systems located between pairs of consecutive winding elements of the plurality of winding elements and having a configuration identical to that of the dynamic mechanical linkage system. 
     
     
         3 . The electric motor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rotor unit comprising at least one shuttle that is magnetically coupled to the plurality of winding elements and mechanically coupled to a rail structure of the stator unit, and wherein the at least one shuttle follows a circumferential length of the stator unit, such that a circumferential length of the electric motor is altered according to a circumferential length of the stator unit.   
     
     
         4 . The electric motor of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one shuttle comprises segmented magnetic pole arrangements. 
     
     
         5 . The electric motor of  claim 3 , wherein the rotor unit comprises a plurality of shuttles that are magnetically coupled to the plurality of winding elements, mechanically coupled to the rail structure and magnetically or mechanically interconnected to allow the plurality of shuttles to follow the circumferential length of the stator unit, such that the circumferential length of the electric motor is altered according to the circumferential length of the stator unit. 
     
     
         6 . The electric motor of  claim 5 , wherein respective shuttles of the plurality of shuttles comprise segmented magnetic pole arrangements, and wherein the plurality of shuttles are separated by buffer zones. 
     
     
         7 . The electric motor of  claim 3 , wherein one or more shuttles of the rotor unit are connected to a wheel of an electric vehicle via one or more link arms that move freely inside grooves provided in the one or more shuttles, and wherein the one or more shuttles are connected to the wheel without employing a gearbox. 
     
     
         8 . The electric motor of  claim 1 , wherein respective winding elements of the plurality of winding elements are coupled to each other in an articulating loop, and wherein the plurality of winding elements are interconnected for structural integrity. 
     
     
         9 . The electric motor of  claim 8 , wherein the respective winding elements comprise soft magnet cores, and wherein the respective winding elements and the soft magnet cores further allow the respective winding elements to form the articulating loop. 
     
     
         10 . The electric motor of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of winding elements comprise concentrated winding elements or distributed winding elements. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 altering a circumferential length of a stator unit of an electric motor by operating at least one dynamic mechanical linkage system, wherein the at least one dynamic mechanical linkage system is located between a pair of consecutive winding elements of a plurality of winding elements comprised in the stator unit, wherein the at least one dynamic mechanical linkage system comprises a first set of ball joints, a second set of ball joints and a scissor mechanism that couples the first set of ball joints and the second set of ball joints.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 altering the circumferential length of the stator unit during operation of the electric motor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 operating a rotor unit of the electric motor to alter a circumferential length of the electric motor according to the circumferential length of the stator unit, wherein the rotor unit comprises at least one shuttle that is magnetically coupled to the plurality of winding elements and mechanically coupled to a rail structure of the stator unit, and that follows the circumferential length of the stator unit.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 operating the rotor unit of the electric motor to alter the circumferential length of the electric motor according to the circumferential length of the stator unit, wherein the rotor unit comprises a plurality of shuttles that are magnetically coupled to the plurality of winding elements, mechanically coupled to the rail structure and magnetically or mechanically interconnected to allow the plurality of shuttles to follow the circumferential length of the stator unit, such that the circumferential length of the electric motor is altered according to the circumferential length of the stator unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 operating the electric motor to drive a wheel of an electric vehicle, without employing a gearbox, via one or more link arms connected to one or more shuttles of the rotor unit, wherein the one or more link arms move freely inside grooves provided in the one or more shuttles.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein respective winding elements of the plurality of winding elements are coupled to each other in an articulating loop, and wherein the plurality of winding elements are interconnected for structural integrity. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the respective winding elements comprise soft magnet cores, and wherein the respective winding elements and the soft magnet cores further allow the respective winding elements to form the articulating loop. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of winding elements comprise concentrated winding elements or distributed winding elements. 
     
     
         19 . An electric motor, comprising:
 a stator unit comprising a plurality of winding elements, wherein each pair of consecutive winding elements of the plurality of winding elements is coupled by a dynamic mechanical linkage system comprising a first set of ball joints, a second set of ball joints and a scissor mechanism that couples the first set of ball joints and the second set of ball joints; and   a rotor unit comprising one or more shuttles that are connected to a wheel of an electric vehicle, wherein the electric motor operates the wheel without employing a gearbox.   
     
     
         20 . The electric motor of  claim 19 , wherein the dynamic mechanical linkage system allows a circumferential length of the stator unit to be altered during operation of the electric motor.